Do you use the USDA dietary guidelines or MyPlate to teach your clients about healthy food choices?

Yes, and I am a fan of My Plate placemats. They can be optained from the American Diabetes Association and the A Dietetic Association. RD's get them for free, so get a few pads to share with clients. The placemats are a visual guide. I briefly review the USDA guidelines using this visual tool. Most people respond well to visual cues. Some clients have even laminated them. It is a quick glance guide to daily healthy eating.
Danielle

no

I do and I don't. I use them but mostly in reference.

You can provide general nutritional advice but you are liable if you fall outside your scope of practice. For instance if your client asks you about specific dietary advice for someone with diabetes or osteoporosis you should promptly tell them to ask a dietitian. General nutritional advice would be telling them to consume fruits throughout the day so they do not binge eat or telling them to eat a variety of foods every day. I have always assumed that if you state "The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that you should reduce your intake of saturated and trans saturated fats" then that would fall within your boundaries as a personal trainer. It would be uncharacteristic of personal trainer to tell them what to specifically eat. For instance I would not tell them to take in any supplements because there have been some lawsuits filed against personal trainers for that very reason. Furthermore, many companies that produce supplements do not list accurate nutritional information with regards to what is in the supplement. So if your client is allergic to one of the ingredients then a court may deem you liable if your client suffers an allergic reaction or something.

haha I agree with Shaun "NO". The tool has been not much help in educating anyone on dietary intake. I will admit it is much improved from the pyramid but one tool cannot be utilized to serve an entire population. Similar to exercise - cookie cutter approachers do not work!

Fuel the Movement,
JM

I use it with my clients. I recognize that my knowledge is very limited and for individuals who need guidelines the guidelines can serve to give them direction in adopting a healthful lifestyle.

Perhaps I am idealistic about the approach of the bodies I am certified by, however, I like to believe that they value research and education as much as I do. I don't believe the government nor certifying bodies like ACE and the ACSM, who encourage its certified professionals to look to the guidelines for direction, developed those guidelines willy nilly.

For the most part personal trainers as a group do not have secondary education and for many, MyPlate and the USDA Food Guidelines come as a welcome resource in their efforts to help their clients adopt a healthful lifestyle.

Thank you for your question.